Automatic musical instrument.



No. 835,604. PATENTED NOV.'13, 1906.

w. K. L. DIGKSON.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMEN T.

APPLICATION FILED AUG LQO, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSbVS; NV l Q W 4 BY ATTORNEY.

No. 835,604. PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

W. K. L. DIOKSON.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 20, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q I MB% .wrajiZENTORE A TZORNE Y.

THE N'omus PETERS 60, m ASHIIVIJTDN, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT orFIoE.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed August 20, 1903. Serial No. 170,189.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM KENNEDY- LAURIE DicK'soN, a subject of theKing of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Lon don, England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic MusicalInstruments, (for which I have received Letters Patent of the Kingdom ofGreat Britain and Ireland, No. 23,853 of 1902,) of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to musical instruments of the harp or zither type,and has for its object the automatic operation or playing of theinstrument by the aid of a moving music-record which selects andcontrols the means for striking the proper strings.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, andcombination of devices and parts fully described, and pointed out in thefollowing specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which likereference characters refer to like parts, Figure 1 is a longitudinalvertical sectional view of a musical box embodying my invention. Fig. 2is a transverse sectional view, and Fig. 3 is a plan view,

of my improved instrument.

The casing 1 of my musical boX is of any desired shape or of suchornamental construction as may be desired and has near each end shafts 2and 3, which carry the musicrecord sheet or sheets 4 of paper or sheetmetal made in the usual Way with perforations alined along its length tocorrespond with the wires or strings of the instrument and at suchintervals as to produce the notes of some certain tune or air. Thisshaft 3 is provided with a crank-handle 5 to wind the record-sheet uponthis shaft; but it is obvious that I may employ any one of variousmotive forces to do this winding, such as clockwork, weights, orbattery-power. The records may be also wound on spools carried on theshafts, which could be readily slipped ofi when it is desired tosubstitute a new record, and the shaft 2 might also be provided with acrank handle to rewind the record for arepetition of the tune or tunes.

In its passage from the shaft 2 to the shaft 3 the record passes beneatha longitudinal opening 6 of a cylindrical casing 7, held rigidly at apoint about midway between the two shafts and inclosing a drum 8, whichrotates therein and is driven by the belt 9, which passes around thepulleys 10 and 11,

the latter being on the shaft 3. The drum 8 is provided with a series ofannular grooves 12, which equal in number and correspond with thealinements of the perforations of the record-sheets 4. The upper side ofthe casing 7 has a flared opening or hopper 13, into which is placed acertain amount of shot, pellets, or other objects or substance which maypass around the grooves 12 and out of the opening 6 when a perforationin the sheet passes under said opening, but which the blank orunperforated portion of the sheet would ordinarily check and hold withinthe grooves.

Beneath the casing 7 and adapted to carry on its upper face therecord-sheet 4 is a sliding plate 14, which is provided withperforations corresponding with the alinement of the perforations of therecord-sheets and moves in ways 15, secured to the under side of thecasing 7 at each end. Each perforation of the plate 14 opens into adepending tube 16, which is designed to receive the pellet dropped fromthe corresponding groove of the drum 8 and cause it to drop in avertical line toward the strings of the instrument.

The strings 17 which produce the musical sounds, are stretched over aslanting sounding-board 18 by means of the ordinary tuning-pegs 19 andare looped around a stationary peg 20 at the bottom of the board 18, sothat each string is practically composed of a pair of strings adjacentto each other, and each pair is tuned in unison and is imme diatelybelow an opening in the plate 14 and its tube 16. Above the strings 17there is arranged a mufiier 21 for modulating the sound produced by thepellets falling on the strings of the instrument. This muffler is madeof thin muslin, silk, or like material and is 5 stretched so that itdoes not touch the strings nor prevent their vibrations. Each side ofthe muslin is attached to a roller 22 and wound thereon until a desiredtension is obtained. This muffler may be made up of materials ofdifferent thicknesses and wound upon these rollers, so that the desiredone may be brought into use when necessary.

A short distance below the point on the string that is struck by thepellet is the inclined side of a trough 23, whose bottom 24 slopestoward a pocket 25, in which is journaled the lower end of anArchimedean screw 26. This screw is adapted to return the pellets whichhave been used to the hopper 13 IIO of the casing 7, and it is driven bya suitable belt 27 passing around the pulley 28 on the screw and drivenby the pulley 29 on the driving-shaft 3. The belt passes over suit ableidlers 30, and the screw is inclosed within a casing 31 and suitablyjournaled at its upper end. The pellets are delivered from the screwinto a lateral spout 32, which conducts them into the hopper 13.

I do not wish to confine myself to the use of a screw in returning thepellets to the hopper 13, as various other means may be resorted to,such as buckets on an endless belt, to elevate them; but I find thescrew a convenient and simple method, and therefore show it in thedrawings.

Connected with the sliding plate 14, by means of the rod 33, is anordinary ballgovernor 34, which is put in motion by the friction-wheel35 on the shaft 2 through the smaller friction-wheel 36 and thebelt-pulleys 37 and'38. In Fig. 1 the sliding plate is shown in positionto release the pellets when the proper perforated notes pass beneath thegrooves 12 and the governor is supposed to be in motion and the ballsthrown out; but when the shaft 3 is at rest or before ithas attained itsproper speed the spring 39 carries the tube 16 past the opening 6 andcloses same. The same occurs when the recordsheet is being reversed andwound on the shaft 2.

Instead of using the tubes 16 for directing the pellets to the variousstrings I may adopt vertical partitions, which depend from the plate 14,extending in the direction of the strings, and effectively prevent thedeviation of the pellets from a vertical course and consequent strikingof the wrong string.

The side of the trough 23 adjacent to the strings of the instrument maybe made adjustable in order to catch the pellet on its first rebound.This will be found necessary with the variation of the tension of themodulator or muffler 21.

The operation of the instrument is as follows: The crank-arm 5 is turnedwith sufficient speed to cause the governor 34 to move the perforatedplate 14 to a position where it permits the pellets to pass through theperforations of the record-sheet by registering with the opening 6 inthe casing 7. The pellets from the annular grooves drop through theirrespective tubes as the recordsheet passes over the plate 14 andstriking their strings rebound into the trough 23, and the inclinedbottom of the trough causes them to run down into the pocket 25, wherethey are taken up by the spiral groove of the screw 26 and carried tothe top of the casing 31, where they pass out into the spout 32 andhopper 13.

It is obvious that other means may be adopted to accomplish the sameresults in the various details of the instrument, as has already beensuggested, such as a different type of governor, gearing, or sprocketwheels and chains instead of the pulleys and belts, as shown in severalparts of the instrument, 620.; but these changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a musical instrument, the combination with strings, of pellets orweighty objects adapted to strike and sound the strings, a receptaclefor the pellets and means therein for dividing them into groups, aperforated plate adapted to deliver the pellets to the various stringsand a musical record-sheet provided with perforations alined tocorrespond with the perforations of the plate and to deliver the pelletstherein.

2. In a musical instrument, the combination with strings adapted toproduce different musical notes, of pellets or weighty objects adaptedto fall upon the strings and sound the notes, a receptacle for thepellets and means therein for dividing them into groups, aperforatedplate adapted to direct the pellets to the proper strings, aperforated musical record-sheet admitting the pellets to theperforations of the plate and means for delivering the pellets to theperforations of the said musical record.

3. In a musical instrument, the combination with strings, of a platewith perforations corresponding with the strings, a perforated musicalrecord-sheet, pellets or weighty objects adapted to drop through theperfora' tions of the record and the plate and strike the strings, acylindrical casing and a grooved roller rotating within the cylindricalcasing, the grooves adapted to contain the pellets and to deliver sameto the perforations of the record.

1. In a musical instrument, the combination with strings, of aperforated plate supported above the strings, a musical record, providedwith perforations alined with those of the plate, pellets adapted topass through the perforations of the record and plate and strike thestrings, a roller with annular grooves for carrying the pellets and acylindrical case inclosing the roller and provided with a longitudinalopening, to permit the passage of the pellets from the roller to therecord-sheet.

5. In a musical instrument, the combination with strings, of pellets orweighty objects adapted to drop upon the strings, a plate havingperforations above the separate strings, a perforated musical record, acireumferentially-grooved roller, a cylindrical case containing theroller and having a hopper on its top and an opening along its lowerside and means for returning the pellets to the hopper and roller afterhaving struck the strings.

from the trough to the hopper.

7. In a musical instrument, the combinat1on with strings for producingVarious musical notes, of a plate provided with a perforation over eachstring, a musical record provided with perforations alined to gage withthose of the plate, a roller with annular grooves coinciding with theperforations, and pellets or weighty bodies adapted to be carried in thegrooves and to drop through the perforations onto the strings.

8. In a musical instrument, the combination with strings, of pelletsadapted to drop upon the strings to produce musical sounds, a receptaclefor the pellets and means therein for dividing them into groups and ascreen of flexible material interposed between the strings and thepellets and adapted to modulate the loudness of the sound.

9. In a musical instrument, the combination with strings, of pelletsadapted to drop upon the strings to produce musical sounds, a receptaclefor the pellets and means therein for dividing them into groups and amuffler comprising sections of varying thickness in terposed between thestrings and pellets to modulate the loudness of the sound.

10. In a musical instrument, the combination with strings, of pelletsadapted to drop upon the strings to produce musical sounds, adjustablespools and a screen of flexible material interposed between the stringsand pellets and mounted on the adjustable spools to increase or decreasethe tension of the screen, so as to modulate the loudness of the soundto a greater or less degree.

11. In a musical instrument, the combination with pellets or weightyobjects, a receptacle for the pellets and means therein for dividingthem into groups of strings adapted to be struck and sounded by thefalling pellets or weighty objects, and means interposed between thestrings and pellets to modulate the sound.

12. In a musical instrument, the combination with strings, of pellets orweighty obj ects, a grooved roller carrying the pellets, a slotted casecontaining the roller, a perforated musical record, a sliding plate withperforations coinciding with the strings of the instrument, and means bywhich the perforations of the sliding plate are carried beneath the slotin the case to receive the pellets when the record-sheet is put inmotion.

' 13. In a musical instrument, the combination with strings, of aperforated musical record, pellets or weighty objects adapted to I dropthrough the perforations and onto the strings, means for regulatingthe-feed of the pellets to the record, shafts or rollers adapted tocarry the record, and means connected with one of the shafts adapted toprevent the operation of the pellets before'the record has attained itsproper speed.

14. In a musical instrument, the combination with strings, of pelletsadapted to fall upon the strings to produce musical notes, a groovedroller, a cylindrical case with a hopper, a perforated musical record, aperforated sliding plate or support, a governor connected with andoperating the sliding plate, shafts or rollers carrying the perforatedrecor rollers with the governor. v

15. In a musical instrument, the combination with a musicalrecord-sheet, of shafts carrying the musical record-sheet, means fordriving one of the shafts, strings, pellets adapted to be dropped uponthe strings to produce musical notes, a grooved roller and case, asliding perforated plate adapted to prevent the operation of thepellets, a governor controlling the position of the sliding plate, meansfor driving the governor by one of the shafts, an elevator adapted .toreturn the fallen pellets to the grooved roller, and means connectedwith one of the shafts fo operating the elevator.

16. In a musical instrument, the combination with strings, of pellets orweighty objects, a grooved roller and case, a perforated musicalrecord-sheet, a perforated plate with partitions or tubes for directingthe course of the pellets, a mufliing-apron or modulator, a trough withslanting floor to catch the spent pellets, a screw journaled in thebottom of the trough and adapted to deliver the pellets to the groovedroller and its case, a shaft carrying one end of the musicalrecord-sheet,

the screw and means connected with the shaft for rotating the groovedroller.

17. In a musical instrument, the combination with strings, of pelletsadapted to drop upon the strings to produce musical notes, a groovedroller and case carrying the pellets, means for controlling the flow ofthe pellets, a trough with slanting bottom and a pocket adapted to catchthe spent pellets, a screw having its bearing in the pocket anddelivering into the case of the grooved roller and means for operatingthe screw.

18. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with strings,pellets or weighty objects adapted to drop upon said strings and therebyproduce sounds, and a receptacle for said pellets having means and anopening in its bottom, of a perforated music record-sheet located belowthe said receptacle and adapted to close the opening therein except atsuch times as when a pertherein for dividing the pellets into groups ordand gearing connecting one of theshafts ICC means connected with theshaft for turning foration in said sheet registers 01' coincides I myname, this 15th day of July, 1903, in the with said opening and adaptedto permit a presence of two subscribing witnesses. pellet to drop fromsaid receptacle onto one of the strings when a perforation does regis-WILLIAM KENLEDLLAURIE DICKSOB' 5 ter or coincide with said opening, andmeans for moving said music record-sheet.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed Witnesses:

H. D. JAMEsoN, A. NUTTING.

